NORFOLK ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 7

NORFOLK ISLAND

" STEAMER SERVICE QUESTION (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") AUCKLAND, This Bay. Advice was received yesterday by; the Auckland Chamber of Commerce from D. W. M'Kay, Ltd., of Invercarcrjll owners of the steamer Hmemoa, that the firm would not be prepared to conduct the Norfolk Island shipping service, owing to the heavy working expenses involved. Endeavours have been made to induce private enterprise to provide a service consequent upon the intended withdrawal by the Government of the Maui Pomare, which will leave Auckland oil her last trip to the island on Monday. Negotiations have been m progress with £>. W. M'Kay, Ltd., for some time by Spedding, Ltd., to whom the Invercargill firm has stated that it would not entertain the idea as the working expenses would be about £1200 a month. They had been made considerably heavier than otherwise since the Seamen's Union demands were for a. crew of 29 to man the Hinemoa, which was considered to be most iniquitous. It was regretted that th« possibilities did not appear at all favourable'for undertaking the service. It was mentioned that a subsidy would bo required, but the overhead cost for such a small vessel was very large. A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Council is to be held on Tuesdaynight, when the matter will bo discussed. It has been stated that there are 150 New Zoalanders settled on the island, some with leases for five years, and their demand for goods produced in the Dominion has become increasingly large. It is stated that had it been known that thero was a possibility of the service being discontinued, there is no ..doubt many would not havo. settled there.